If you have never bought a loose gem before, sunstone is a gentle place to begin. It is sold by the carat at a fraction of what most gems cost, and this 5.80 carat piece is listed at Rs. 1,300.

What people buy sunstone for is its glitter: tiny reflective inclusions inside the stone throw back little flashes when light hits them. When yours arrives, look at it in sunshine and then under a lamp to see how it behaves.

Its hardness is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, softer than topaz or sapphire, so it suits a pendant or an occasional ring better than a ring worn every single day.

Treatment and next steps

Sunstone is usually not treated. Message us on WhatsApp quoting AG-SU-0001 and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone. You can also browse the other pieces in the sunstone category.

Store it in a soft pouch and wipe it after wearing, and it will keep its shine.

No money changes hands until you have opened the parcel and seen the stone. Karachi orders usually take 1 to 2 working days, other cities 2 to 4, and you have 7 days to return it unused. Before you choose, read our sunstone guide.

This particular stone

This listing is one natural sunstone with a weight of 5.8 Carat. Its price is Rs. 1,310 — roughly Rs. 226 for each carat. Treatment: treatment not tested. Quote reference AG-SU-0001 when you message us about it. The photographs show this exact stone, so what arrives at your door is the piece you chose on screen.

Between two and six carats is the range most people choose for a gents' ring or a noticeable pendant. Here colour drives the price more than size does, which is why two stones of near-identical weight can be priced very differently.

On the Mohs scale sunstone rates 6 to 6.5. That is middle-of-the-road hardness: comfortable in pendants and earrings, and in rings worn with some care. Store it apart from harder stones so it does not pick up scratches, and wipe it with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing.

Whoever you buy sunstone from, make sure of three things: the stone is natural rather than lab-grown, glass or glass-filled; any treatment is stated in writing; and the weight quoted is the weight of the finished stone. We check every sunstone for those three points before it is listed, and because you pay on delivery you can look at the stone — or have it tested — before any money changes hands.

We sell natural stones only and inspect each one before it is listed. Treatment for this stone: Treatment not tested. No lab report yet; independent testing welcome. As general background (not a statement about this stone): Sunstone is usually untreated. Ask us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we know about this exact stone; independent lab testing is available on request.

A certificate of authenticity is available on request for this stone, and independent laboratory testing can be arranged. Because you pay on delivery, you can also take the stone to a lab of your choice within the 7-day return window. Read more on our authenticity page.